# obeisance

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˈbiː.səns/ · frequency rank #84,573

## Definitions
1. Demonstration of an obedient attitude, especially by bowing deeply; a deep bow which demonstrates such an attitude.
2. An obedient attitude.

## Etymology
From Middle English obeisaunce (“obedience, obeisance”), from Old French obeïssance, derived from obeïssant (“obedient”), participle of obeïr (“to obey”), from Latin oboediō, obēdiō; ob- (“to, for”) + audiō (“to hear”). Cognate with obedience.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/obeisance